Antique Sideboard

LOUIS XVI MARBLE, BRONZE AND ORMOLU PENDULE, DIRECTOIRE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MARBLE MANTEL CLOCK, XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY SIDE CABINET, ORMOLU AND BRONZE WALL CLOCK

A RARE AND VERY IMPORTANT LOUIS XVI MARBLE, BRONZE AND ORMOLU PENDULE
A CERCLES TOURNANTS attributed to Thomire, the enamel hour and minute rings decorated in the manner of Coteau with exceptionally finely drawn gilt and polychrome scrollwork, the

pointer at the end of a spray of roses, the movement with inverted anchor escapement and numbered count wheel, the case in the form of a drum-shaped altar faced with a

pro¬cession of well-modelled figures bearing offerings to the sacrifice, one leading a bull, and with a ram’s mask at either side, on the right a priestess stands before a

smoking tripod making libation over the flame, her acolyte kneeling before her between a red marble urn and a bunch of summer flowers spilling from a basket, the base mounted

with a leafy mask between two gryphons and acanthus scrolls enclosing trophies, the curved ends with garlands of fruit and flowers, 2V/2in. high by 24in. wide (54cm. by 61cm.)

circa 1785
Design for Lot 99 attributed to Thomire, published by kind permission oj the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris
An almost identical clock is shown in a design attributed to Thomire in the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris. The design, which shows alternative arrangements for a chimney

piece, is probably part of a bronzier’s catalogue rather than an actual project for decoration
A similar clock was exhibited The Age of Neo-Classicism, London 1972, catalogue number 1620, it was also attributed to Thomire
Another version is at Longleat House in the Collection of the Marquess of Bath and is illustrated in the guidebook
A third version was sold from the Collection of the Countess Bismarck, Sotheby Monte Carlo, 26th May 1980, lot 656

A Louis XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED MARBLE MANTEL CLOCK, the enamel dial signed Blanc l’aine et Compe. a Paris and with pierced gilt hands, the movement with silk suspension and outside

count wheel, the case surmounted by an urn and supported between two shaped columns headed by porcelain plaques, the base faced with mounts composed of eagles’ masks and

flowering scrolls, 20V2in. high (52cm.) circa 1790

A GOOD ORMOLU, BRONZE AND WHITE MARBLE MANTEL CLOCK, the enamel
dial signed Polin Vaine A Paris and with pierced engraved gilt hands and calendar
dial with red numerals, the movement with silk suspension and outside count wheel, the
case surmounted by a bacchante and in the form of a litter borne on the Shoulders of two
putti astride seated goats, the breakfront base mounted with infant musicians among
clouds, 20in. high (51cm.), late 18th/early 19th Century    ?2500-3500
For another example of the same model see Tardy, La Pendule Francaise, Volume 2, page 122. A similar clock was exhibited in the 1968 Antique Dealers’ Fair at Grosvenor House

A Louis XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED GREY MARBLE MANTEL CLOCK, the enamel
dial signed Martinet London and with pierced gilt hands and steel calendar hand, the
movement with outside count wheel and altered suspension, the arched base surmounted
by a fiaming torch and quiver and with fluted pilasters flanked by fruit and flowers below
the dial, the inverted breakfront base faced with foliate mounts, Whin. high (47cm.) circa
1785
Presumably made for the English market

A DIRECTOIRE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MARBLE MANTEL CLOCK, the (chipped) enamel
dial signed Le Cour a Paris, the movement with silk suspension and outside count wheel,
the case surmounted by an um and supported between two verde antico columns of rec-
tangular section headed by vases of flowers, on a stepped rectangular base, 20in. high (51cm.)
circa 1795

A LATE Louis XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY SMALL COMMODE, with
Belgian fossil marble top, three long drawers, fluted rounded corners and fluted tapering
legs, 2ft. Hin. high by 2ft. lOin. wide (89cm. by 86.5cm.) circa 1785

A PAIR OF LOUIS XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY CONSOLES DESSERTES, the wedge-shaped white marble tops with pierced three-quarter galleries, each with a drawer in the panelled

frieze, raised on fluted supports joined by conforming shelf stretchers, with turned tapering legs, 2ft. 9in. high by 2ft. 7in. wide (84cm. by 79cm.) circa 1785

A Louis XVI GILTWOOD ARMCHAIR stamped P. Gerard, the rectangular back
with a bead moulded frame, the vase-shaped splat hung with laurel swags and trumpets,
the padded arms on downcurved moulded supports, with stuffed seat, on turned fluted
tapering legs headed by paterae, circa 1780
Ponce Gerard received Master 13 May 1778

A PAIR OF LOUIS XVI MAHOGANY SIDE CABINETS, the mottled grey marble tops with three-quarter galleries, the friezes with ormolu bead and petal mouldings, the doors each with

three mirrored panels enclosing shelves, flanked by reeded pilasters, on toupie feet, 3ft. 6in. high by 2ft. 9V4in. wide (107cm. by 84cm.) circa 1785, mirror panels later

A DIRECTOIRE BRASS-MOUNTED MAHOGANY COMMODE, the breche violette marble
top with a pierced three-quarters brass gallery and with three long brass-panelled drawers,
the top one with three small panels and with original rectangular loop handles, the pro-
jecting rounded corners inlaid with brass fluting, raised on toupie feet, 2ft. Whin. high
by 4ft. 1 ‘Mn. zoide (88cm. by 126cm.) circa 1790

A A PAIR OF ORMOLU CHENETS, each in the form of a cherub, issuing from boldly
cast leafy scrollwork and warming his hands at a flaming brazier, on fluted and bead-cast
bases, W/nn. high by 15in. wide (34cm. by 38.5cm.) 19th Century

A PAIR OF ORMOLU-MOUNTED GREY MARBLE VASES in Louis XVI style, with
pomegranate fmials, lion mask handles, leafy socles and square bases, 18in. high (64cm.)
19th Century

A Louis XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY SIDE CABINET with white marble
top, the panelled frieze with beaded borders above three glazed doors also with beaded
borders and fianked by fluted and stop-fluted pilasters, on fluted tapering legs, the back
with interlaced double V mark, 2ft. Hin. high by 6ft. V2in. wide (89cm. by 185cm.) circa
1785
The double V inventory mark is traditionally associated with Versailles, though it is also recorded as being the mark of the Chateau de Wideville

AN ORMOLU AND BRONZE WALL CLOCK, the circular white enamel dial and
movement signed Planchon a Paris, the case in the form of a drum suspended from ribbons
with an eagle and laurel leaves below, 21 in. high (55cm.) the back stamped MP and
numbered 9572,19th Century

A LOUIS XVI PAINTED HALF-TESTER BED, with waved moulded cornice
supported on two fluted posts, with arched stuffed ends faced by fluted and leaf-carved
columns, raised on fluted tapering feet, 4ft. 9in. wide by 7ft. long (145cm. by 213cm.) circa
1780

A PAIR OF LOUIS XVI BRONZE AND ORMOLU CANDLESTICKS, each with a leafy nozzle held in the arms of a winged bronze cherub who balances on one foot on a cloud, on cylindrical white

marble pillar with square base, 103Ain. high (27cm.) circa 1790

A PAIR OF LOUIS XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED PORPHYRY VASES of urn shape with
satyr mask handles supporting swags of flowers, the gadrooned leaf-cast socles on rec-
tangular bases, Hin. high (28cm.) circa 1780, on later rectangular ormolu-mounted blocks,
WMn. high overall (39cm.)

A PAIR OF Louis XVI BRONZE, GILT-BRONZE AND WHITE MARBLE CANDELABRA,
each in the form of a cherub with scant drapery holding a flaming torch in each hand
forming the candie nozzles, standing on drum-shaped marble plinths with rectangular
bases, Whin. (42cm.) circa 1780

A LOUIS XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED BLACK AND WHITE MARBLE MANTEL CLOCK,
the enamel dial signed Piolaine a Paris, and with pierced gilt hands and Arabie chapters,
the movement with outside count wheel and altered suspension, the case surmounted
by an eagle and with fluted columns backed by corbels faced with chains of flowers, ail
headed by urns of flowers, the base mounted with floral scrolls, 21 ‘hin. high (54.5cm.)
excluding later feet, circa 1785

A DIRECTOIRE MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE A ABATTANT, the moulded comice above a frieze set with a brass band, above a drawer and a fall-front enclosing a fitted interior, with three

further drawers and a drawer in the base flanked by fiuted columns, on turned feet, 4ft. IVhin. high by2ft. 6in. wide (151cm. by 76cm.) late 18th Century

French Empire Style Sideboards
Empire sideboards were first hand made in 1802 of the Voyage daps la Basse et Haute Egypte, a collection of drawings by Baron Vivant-Denon, who had accompanied Napoleon on his excursion to Syria and Egypt in 1798-1801, heightened the interest in Egypt that Napoleon’s campaign had itself generated.
Sideboards designed by Napoleon’s architects, Charles Perrier (1764-1838) and Pierre Fontaine (1762-1853), including those at the Tuileries and the Chateau de Malmaison, and pieces produced by makers such as F. H. G. Jacob-Desmalter and L. F. and P. A. Bellange, developed the Empire style. This drew on Greek, Roman and Egyptian furniture, and became popular from England and North America to Germany, Italy and Spain.
This grand, imperial style achieved much of its effect through massive forms and rich ornament. Although an ornate, propagandistic style, it derived great dignity from its clear forms and classical restraint. Motifs such as eagles, lions, caryatids, griffins and sphinxes, taken from Roman, Greek and Egyptian antique examples, appeared on sideboards as ornaments and supports. Tables with monopodia legs, gilt eagle supports, or lion’s paw feet, elegant sofas and ’sleigh’ beds with sweeping S-curved arms and endboards, and klismos and curule chairs, presented classical motifs on a much larger scale than in earlier classical styles. Rich woods such as mahogany, gilt carving and ormolu mounts of anthemions, stars and medallions, characterized Empire oak sideboards.
English Regency Style Sideboards
The English version of this style, known as the Regency, lasted from about 1790 to 1830, when the vogue for relics of antiquity popularized sideboards ornamented with sphinxes, griffins, classical mouldings and other Empire style elements.
Although it reached its peak early in the 19th century, Empire and Regency sideboards represented merely one phase in the evolution of the classical style that would take place in the course of the century when a variety of past idioms would be continually reinterpreted and renewed.